DSI Raids IPTV Piracy Network Linked to Gambling Sites

Pictures courtesy of Khaosod 

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has dismantled a large-scale piracy network connected to online gambling platforms, with damages estimated in the hundreds of millions of baht. The operation, named “DEV Shutdown,” was carried out on 29 September and involved simultaneous raids in Nonthaburi and Bangkok. Officials seized equipment and shut down a warehouse used as the central hub for illegal broadcasting and gambling operations.

The raids were led by Pol Lt Col Yutthana Phaedam, DSI Director-General, following a report from Pol Capt Khemchat Prakaihongmanee, Director of the Technology and Information Case Division. More than 40 officers from the DSI, the Special Operations Division and the Central Institute of Forensic Science took part. Search warrants were issued by the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court.

Authorities targeted four sites in Nonthaburi and two in Bangkok, including a warehouse over five rai in size in Pak Kret district. The site functioned as the interception and rebroadcasting centre for English Premier League matches, streaming them illegally on the inwiptv platform. It also served as a base for administrators of several gambling websites.

Items seized included servers, signal decoders, satellite dishes, laptops, hard drives, and mobile phones. Investigators found connections to other affected companies such as MONO, Netflix, and Channel 3. The piracy operation was reported by True Visions Group and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPA), who confirmed that inwiptv illegally broadcast Premier League football and Warner Bros films.

The platform reportedly had more than 100,000 subscribers, generating over 200 million baht annually. It was also directly linked to a major online gambling network with revenues exceeding 1 billion baht per year. The case was designated Special Case No. 80/2568.

Investigations revealed links to businesses “Thep IPTV” and “FW Esports,” with tiered subscription packages for daily, weekly, monthly and yearly access. Services included TV channels, films, pornography and extensive gambling advertisements. Additional equipment and bank accounts used for laundering funds were seized from the gambling network’s admin teams.

Officials noted that piracy not only harms content creators and the national economy but also fuels cybercrime, particularly gambling. Funds moved through multiple accounts could also constitute money laundering, carrying severe legal penalties.

The case comes as the US Trade Representative (USTR) released its Special 301 Report for 2025, which keeps Thailand on the Watch List (WL) for the eighth consecutive year. Despite progress in enforcement, widespread copyright violations remain. The findings impact trade negotiations and highlight continued US concerns about intellectual property protection in Thailand.

Key Takeaways

• DSI raided six sites on 29 September, shutting down the inwiptv piracy network.

• The operation linked copyright violations to online gambling worth over 1 billion baht annually.

• Thailand remains on the US Trade Representative’s Watch List for copyright concerns.

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-10-01